Based on reviews, I think there was some misunderstanding regarding my notes in the last chapter. Some of you seemed to be under the impression that I was writing under peer pressure for certain things to take place. Then again, perhaps it's best you thought that way. I assure you what happened in the last chapter and what will happen in this chapter were what I intended to happen from the very beginning, no matter how painful or emotionally exhausting it might be.

That said, WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS SEXUAL CONTENT, INTERNALIZED ACEPHOBIA, EMOTIONAL TURMOIL, AND PHYSICAL ABUSE!

Title Song: "Don't Take Your Love From Me" by Frank Sinatra


Many men had propositioned Tina. In a fashion that she could never doubt their lust for her. After her first audition in New York, she had confided in her agent Wilbur that she was certain the manager of the club wanted to sleep with her. Wilbur's logic was that if she played to the manager's fantasies, not only would she land a great gig, but she'd get a good screw out of it. But Tina was a virgin and didn't know how to seduce anyone.

That is, until Wilbur showed her that night.

So had been the story with every other man she'd encountered in her career. Right up until Ethan. All wanting her body, but not her heart.

Then Alastor had come along, wanting neither. And when he'd started craving her heart, she'd dreamed of him begging for her body. Now, that dream had at last come true.

And all she could think to say was, "Huh?"

"I had planned," he said as he slid out of his dress shirt, "to take you to my suite for this, but I suppose this room will satisfy for our first time."

Her brain still couldn't process what was happening. "Huh?"

"Surprise." He bent down to kiss her neck. "Happy Valentine's Day, mon amour."

"Al."

"I admit I am not quite, ahem, prepared yet, but I will be shortly."

"Al."

"Remember, I have never done this before, so forgive me for any—"

"AL!"

Taking on her demon form, Tina shoved Alastor and sent him flying off the bed. The radio screeched to silence. Just as he grabbed the foot of the bed and hoisted himself up, she had snatched up her dress and was pressing it over her bare chest.

"The hell do ya think you're doing?" she demanded.

There were several blips as he blinked. "I…I don't understand."

"You don't understand? Who are ya and what've ya done with my husband? Cuz my Al would never try to fuck me!"

"Darling—"

"You drunk? Did Angel spike your drink? Damn it, I told him I didn't go for that crap!"

"Tina, I'm not—"

"Listen, Al." Tina stood to thrust her legs into her dress. "You're not of sound mind right now. Let's get ya up to your room so you can lie—"

"I'm not drunk! Nor am I drugged!"

She stared at him, her dress half-zipped. "Then what the hell kinda joke is this?"

"You think this is a joke?" Alastor rounded the bed. "No, Tina. I'm serious about offering myself to you. I believe it's time."

"Since when?" She crossed her arms, partly to show her disbelief, and partly to hold up her dress. "Just a couple days ago, you didn't want this at all. Now all of a sudden you're strippin' down and propositionin' me?"

"This isn't sudden, Tina. I've had plenty of time to consider this." He sat on the bedside. "Perhaps I wasn't ready ten years ago, but I certainly am now." He reached for her face. "After all, it's our marital duty."

"Marital duty?" She stepped back from his hand. "You've always said our marriage was unique. That it didn't need anything else."

"It didn't. Then. But things are different now." He scooted towards her. "We're different, mon amour. We can pick up where we left off."

He reached for her again with both arms. But she backed away.

"Is this cuz of what the Three Vs said? Cuz of the photos?" She choked as she asked this. "This outta some crazy possessive jealousy? That shit may've been hot for a moment, but this…"

Tina waved her arms around, then quickly held up her slipping dress, as she still hadn't been able to reach the zipper. "This is fucking screwed up, Al!"

"No, Tina." Alastor lunged forward, seizing her by the shoulders. "This isn't because of what happened downstairs, I swear. In fact, this was meant to be my Valentine's Day surprise for you."

She scoffed. "You expect me to believe this was what you were plannin' for tonight? You? The man who only just learned why he ain't into sex?"

"It's alright. Your raccoon friend said people like me are still capable of making love with their partners. Especially if they desire to make children."

Tina froze. "Ch-Children?"

Then she remembered what he'd whispered to her on the dancefloor, and her heart was back to racing.

Alastor's grin widened. "Yes. Yes, dear. Perhaps this will prove to you how sincere I am."

Releasing her, he snapped his fingers and a vial of dark liquid appeared in his hand.

"W-What is that?" Tina asked.

"This," he said, holding it between his thumb and forefinger, "contains the blood of Lilith. I acquired this from Lucifer, shortly before our tenth anniversary. One drop each will grant us the ability to conceive a child together."

Her dress fell from her hands. "Y-You've had this? For ten years?"

He nodded.

"W-Why didn't ya say anything?"

"I tried to. The day you left." His ears drooped. "But…you didn't believe me."

She still didn't believe him. How could she? After all the moments she'd initiated physical intimacy, only for him to push her away.

Had he really changed his mind?

"We don't have to take it now," Alastor said. "Lucifer said there might be side effects for the first hour or so." He lowered the vial. "For now, we can just…try it out?"

Before she could ask what he meant by that, his lips were upon hers, and her dress fell to the floor. And she was suddenly very aware of the fact that they were both half-naked. The moment she felt his hand on her breast, she shoved him off.

"You're sayin' ya wanna do it," she said slowly, "without any intention of makin' a baby?"

"Oh, we can still make a baby tonight, if you wish." The words came out so nonchalantly it shocked even Alastor. "We would simply have to wait for the potion to take effect. Although, if you ask me…"

He set the vial on the bedside table, his hands now free to take Tina by the arms and guide her body to his. "I'm tired of waiting."

The right thing to do would be to scold him. But the warmth of his chest against hers turned the bat's angry confusion into a whole different kind of confusion.

"Isn't this what you always envisioned, ma precieuse?" He rested one hand on her shoulder, the other on her back. "The two of us? In bed? Unclothed?" He whispered in her ear, "Completely entwined?"

Tina couldn't help but shiver at the image. Damn it, why did this guy have to be so damn sexy?

He pecked her neck. "Don't you still want that?"

"I, uh…" She gulped. "Y-Yeah?"

What was the use in lying? It was plain in the way her body was responding to his touches. She'd never wanted anyone this badly.

"Then," he said, his fingers picking at the waistband of her slip shorts, "shall we?"

Was this really okay? He didn't sound as nervous as all those other near-sexy times before. Maybe ten years truly had altered his opinion on the matter.

She had to be sure first.

"N-Not yet." The positions of his lips and hands made it almost impossible for her to speak. "B-But maybe…in a little…bit?"

Yes, that seemed fair. That they feel their way in before taking the plunge.

"So," Alastor said as his hands moved down her curves, "may I continue to kiss you?"

As he squeezed her thigh, the only response Tina could form was a nod.

And so, as the radio restarted, he carried her back to the bed.

"You, uh, sure this is okay?" she asked as he laid her down.

He settled himself above her. "Do you still doubt my love for you?"

She shook her head.

"Then of course," he said, pressing his lips to her neck, "it's okay."

He had said that before, and it hadn't worked out so well. Even so, Tina was willing to give her husband the benefit of the doubt. And if he was the one on top, he could stop whenever he wanted to.

Besides, her body was overheating for him. She didn't want him to stop touching her. If there was a chance he would go all the way tonight, she would let him.

"Ya…ya really want a baby with me?"

She gasped as his knee slid between her legs and pressed up against her most sensitive area.

"Yes, darling," he whispered. "I want you to be the mother of my child."

There they were. The words no man had ever said to her, that she'd been hoping to hear from him.

"Damn, Al." Her cheeks flushed. "Ya really know how to push a girl's buttons." Her legs curled around him. "We should talk more 'bout the baby thing though."

"You wish," Alastor said, trailing a finger down her front, "to discuss it now?"

The slow, gentle action made her quiver. "T-Tomorrow?"

"Very well." He caressed her legs, moving them to his waist. "In the meantime…"

Tina surrendered to her desire. Using her wings, she pulled him towards her so that their lips could meet again.

"Al," she murmured. "You're the only man I've ever…will ever…"

Her ability to speak was lost again as his hands and lips wandered.

"The feeling's mutual, darling." His claws tugged on her slip shorts. "Let me show you how much I love you."

She allowed him to remove her shorts. As for her tights, he'd intended to removed them slowly, but thanks to the sharpness of his claws, they ripped right off. He paused in momentary embarrassment.

"I'll, err, replace those."

Then he became embarrassed with the realization that his wife was in nothing but a pair of red, lacey underwear.

She saw his smile shrink. "You okay?"

The last time he'd seen this much of her skin, he'd been nursing her wounds. And even then, he'd barely kept himself together.

"I-I-I'm…" He perked up his grin. "Peachy."

That was a lie. Although Alastor put on seductive airs for her sake, inside, he was panicking. Despite this, he continued to kiss and caress her.

The research he'd gathered from his colleagues and erotic novels had told him the things to say, the places to touch. But none of it had prepared him for how it would feel.

Perhaps he shouldn't have removed the gloves. There was just so much touching. So warm, so sweaty, so soft, so tingly. Both pleasant and unpleasant.

Pleasant was the feeling of her in his arms. Unpleasant was the closeness of their pelvises.

Her desire thumped against him. His squirming could easily be mistaken for shifting. And his moaning, for enjoyment, rather than discomfort. He wanted it to stop.

But he couldn't. He had to do it. He had to show Tina how far he was willing to go to keep her. And it had to be now, before she started doubting him. He could not risk losing her again.

Just get it over with. Even if you don't like it, at least she will.

A few minutes of physical discomfort was a small price to pay for a lifetime of emotional bliss.

There was just one problem with that plan. That thing he couldn't control. Although Tina's groin bucked against his, it wouldn't cooperate.

Accursed thing. The men in the erotic novels never had this problem. A woman would so much as breathe and he'd be ready to go. Was it really that easy for normal men?

Come on, Alastor. If other asexual people can do this, why can't you?

"Al?" Tina stopped moving. "You sure you're okay?"

"Hmm?"

"The music's glitching."

Sure enough, the romantic tune from the radio was phasing in and out.

"O-Oh. Yes, dear." He snapped his fingers to get the music back on track. "Just…a little antsy, is all." He ran his hands along her curves. "Once we get started, I'll be just fine."

But her body did not react to his touch. "Really? Cuz…" She glanced downward. "You're not, uh…"

So, she'd noticed that.

"I will be in a moment." He started pecking whatever part of her body was closest to him, not registering which part. "Don't stop what you're doing, love."

She grabbed his face and brought his gaze to hers. "Do you know what you're doing? Cuz, well, I've had more experience in this and can take over if—"

"No! I can do this."

If he just lay there and let her do all the work, she might think he wasn't serious about saying this was alright. No, he had to be the one taking the lead.

Come on, come on, get it up already!

"Al, your claws."

Once he realized his claws were digging into her arms, he retracted them. "Sorry."

He grinded against her, hoping that would do something. Think about how much you love her.

"Al?"

Think about the child you'll make.

"You're squeezin' kinda tight."

Must keep her. Must have her. Must make her mine, mine, MINE!

"Al, ease up a bit, will ya?"

Don't let anything or anyone take her from me!

"Al, snap out of it!"

The Radio Demon blinked. "Huh?"

Then he saw why Tina had cried out. She was transformed. As was he.

Releasing her, he scrambled back, wrapped his elongated arms around himself, and took deep breaths.

"F-Forgive me." His words came out in a snarl. "I got…carried away."

Once he was calm, he could finally get to making love to her.

"Al, you're really scarin' me right now." She turned back to normal as she sat up. "Maybe we shouldn't be doing this tonight."

"N-No." His voice glitched. "I w-want to do this. We h-have to do this. If we want to make that b-baby—"

"Whaddya mean? We ain't even taken the blood yet."

By this time, his antlers and claws had shrunk. "R-Right. But we still should do it. We're married. It's Valentine's Day. I love you."

He sounded hysterical. Like at any moment he was going to explode from nerves. Tina wouldn't have it.

"Look, Al. I'm grateful you're trying, but there's no rush. As for the baby," she said, reaching to pat his leg, "there's plenty of time for that. We can wait."

Alastor snorted. "Oh, yes, we can wait, but who know how long Lucifer will?"

She scrunched her nose. "What about Lucifer?"

He stiffened. In all the excitement, he'd left out quite a few details.

"Nothing." Alastor smoothed out his tousled hair. "He's simply anxious to be a devil-father, that's all."

"Devil-father?"

"Godfather. Price of his wife's blood, you see." A new idea occurred to him. "Perhaps, if we take it now, we can get to work on it sooner."

By the time the side effects wore off, the Radio Demon might really be ready.

But this suggestion made Tina more suspicious than happy. "What else did it cost?"

"Hmm?"

"Sinners ain't supposed to reproduce." She crossed her arms. "That can't be all it took. So what else did he ask for?"

"Nothing much. Only…" He tapped his fingers together. "That Lucifer take our future child under his wing when they come of age."

"Meaning…?"

"That they be employed by him."

Tina recoiled. "As what?"

He held out his hands as if weighing them. "The exact position will be determined when the time comes, but if the child is anything like you or me, it's sure to be a respectable position."

The Songbat shot to her knees and whipped out her wings. "YOU SOLD OUR UNBORN CHILD TO THE DEVIL?!"

Her voice shook the room. While the Radio Demon usually liked seeing his wife lose her temper, this shouldn't be happening in the middle of a seduction.

"Not sold," he explained in what was intended to be a reassuring tone. "Merely secured a highly stable and respectable position under the Devil's employ."

Her fur stood on end as she growled. "And ya didn't think I'd wanna be there when ya just up and decided our child's future with the King of Hell?"

"I…wanted to surprise you." He cocked his head. "Weren't you the one to suggest I make a deal with him?"

"Yes, but this is our child we're talkin' 'bout, Al! What happens to our child is something we have to decide together!" The madder she got, the taller she got. "God, for ten years, you haven't thought to mention something as big as this?"

Now he was angry. "I tried to. Many times. But then I found you with that harlot, and then you were leaving, and when I said I wanted a child, you refused to believe me."

"Of course I didn't believe ya after tellin' me for months over and over that ya didn't want a child!"

"Well I changed my mind, alright?" He grew to tower over her. "Is that so hard to believe?"

"You know what? You're right." Tina crossed her arms. "You change your mind about a lotta things. One minute ya hate romance, the next ya fall in love with me. One minute you're all childfree, the next you're makin' a baby bargain with the Devil like something out of a fairytale…"

She gasped. "Oh God, that's why Lucifer was here tonight, wasn't it? He wanted to make sure we were back together so he can collect his debt! Is that the only reason you're here?"

"Of course not!" Alastor held up his palms. "Alright, yes, Lucifer is getting rather impatient, but he was also here to—"

"I knew it!" Flapping her wings, she leaped off the bed. "Once again, our marriage is nothing but business!"

"That's not true." He got up to follow her. "I'm not here just for some deal."

"You had to make a deal with me to convince me to stay with you!"

"Frankly, my dear," he said with a scowl, "the fact that simply asking wasn't effective says a lot more about you than it does about me."

"No, no, no." She spun to face him. "This whole baby thing is just a ploy to get me back, ain't it?"

"That's not—"

"And if this hypothetical baby is somehow magically born, how am I supposed to know ya won't change your mind again? That ya won't want our baby, or me."

"Tina," Alastor said, planting himself firmly in front of her, "one thing is for sure. I will never change my mind about you."

"Really?" She placed her hands on her hips. "Cuz from the way you were actin' a few minutes ago, I take it even with the magic Satanic blood, the baby-makin' process is still the same, huh?"

His shoulders tensed. "Essentially, yes."

"Which you don't like."

"Yes, but I'm willing to do it with you anyway."

"Oh." She laughed. "Well, that's just so flattering, ain't it?"

She turned her back to him, wrapping her arms around herself to prevent her transformation from getting worse.

"I thought," Alastor said as he stepped towards her, "this was what you wanted."

Tina looked down at her feet. "I don't know what I want."

"Ah. See, that's the difference between you and me, darling." He settled a hand on her shoulder. "I never lose sight of what I want."

She shrugged him off. "And what is it ya want?"

He scoffed. "Have you not been listening to me?"

"Well forgive me if your signals over the past twenty years have been a tad mixed!"

"God damnit, Tina, you! I want you!" He grabbed both her shoulders to turn her around. "I want everything I said on the dance floor. I want us to share our afterlives together, until the end of eternity, or until we both get so tired and bored of it that we throw ourselves in front of the Exterminators and go out in style together!"

His voice grew quieter, the raw emotion in his gaze boring into hers. "I want us to go back to those wonderful days of talking, dancing, laughing. Those quiet evenings of cooking, reading, falling asleep in each other's arms. Those days we were happy. For simply being."

One hand rested on her stomach. "I want to see you carry my child. I want to witness their birth. I want to hold them in my arms, sing morbid French lullabies to them, teach them to walk, to talk, to shoot, to play the piano or the saxophone or whatever tickles the little tyke's fancy. I want to dress the three of us in matching outfits like those family picture shows you're always making fun of even though I have very little context to go on whenever you rave about anything past the '30s! Yes, it sounds perfectly corny and mundane, but I want it with you, Tina! I want all of it!"

Tina knew Alastor. Knew his tells, his looks, his smiles. Nothing she saw suggested a shred of insincerity. What he said, he meant.

"That all sounds…" She hung her head. "Wonderful. But…"

A record scratch. "But?"

How could there be a "but?" How much clearer could he have been?

She took his hands, gently lifted them from her shoulders, and took a step back. "I don't think you've thought this through."

The frustration, hurt and anger fueling inside the Radio Demon was too much to hide behind a grin. So, he stopped trying.

"What do you mean I haven't thought this through?" He put his hands on his hips. "Nothing else has been on my mind for ten fucking years!"

There was no point in censoring himself. He wanted to offend her.

"How we gonna raise a child in Hell, Al?" Her voice was barely above a whisper. "And don't ya think people are gonna find it weird that two sinners suddenly have a growin' baby that looks exactly like 'em?"

Was she really pulling that card right now?

"Funny." Alastor snorted. "You weren't deterred when I brought up these concerns years ago."

Once again, he was met with her back. "I've had a lotta time to think about it."

"So have I." He approached her. "And our child will be safe. They'll be protected by Lucifer."

Tina wrung her hands. "You mean owned by Lucifer."

"Not owned. Our child will have the freedom to choose what position they'll take." He touched her shoulder. "And if need be, our second-born can always take their—"

"God!" She spun around, her nostrils flaring. "Now there's another kid involved in this deal?!"

"Tina, it will be fine." With his inability to smile, his attempts to sound reassuring were failing more and more with each sentence. "I've gone through great lengths to ensure that this life you want will be possible, and we will not let it go to waste."

He reached for her. "I would do anything to keep you, mon amour."

She recoiled. "Yeah, I know that."

Boy, did she know. One by one, she'd watched all the men in her life go crazy in their efforts to keep her. The ones before had never wanted her love. Only her obedience. They'd claimed it was all in the interest of her achieving her dreams, when really it was about controlling her.

Why else would a man do something he absolutely despised?

"Men have done a lotta shitty things to prevent me from leaving," Tina said with a pained sniff, "but I gotta say, you're the first one to try the baby trap."

The rising static that emanated from the Radio Demon didn't sound ominous like usual, but broken. "You…you feel I'm trapping you in this marriage?"

He didn't understand. She loved him, didn't she? But a moment ago, she'd embraced him, kissed him, whispered sweet nothings, clung to him in longing. How could a woman do that to a man and think herself trapped?

"Al, listen to yourself. You're holdin' this whole baby thing over me, just so I'd have a reason to stay." Under her breath, she muttered, "Just like ya did the day I left."

While Alastor couldn't deny that he was trying to get her to stay, he said, "But…it's what you want."

"But it's not what you want!" She gestured an arm towards him.

"It is." Seriously, had she gone deaf? "Do I need to repeat—?"

"How can ya want a baby when ya won't even fuck me?!"

Alastor froze as the harsh truth sliced through his heart. Tina regretted her words, but someone had to say it.

"Come on, Al. You saw what happened just now." She pointed to the bed. "Do ya really think I'd live with myself if ya had to force yourself to have sex with me?"

Her tone wasn't accusatory. Tina loved Alastor, but what she had just seen him become worried her. Even more so that she had been the catalyst.

"I…I can try again." Alastor glanced down at his trousers. "It just…might take a while."

And he was still insisting they go at it? Have more awkward and scary moments? Him freaking out to the point of transforming unwillingly?

Tina wanted him to make love to her more than anything. To claim her as his one and only. To declare himself as her one and only.

But not like this.

"No." She shook her head with a wince. "We…we can't keep havin' this same fight."

"We don't have to." Alastor went to unbutton his trousers. "Just give me a moment and we can go back to—"

"Al!" She steadied her voice. "You don't want it. And I can't make ya." Her eyes glazed over with tears. "Please, don't let me be the one who makes ya."

Alastor stopped trying to remove his trousers and forced a grin. "D-Darling, you could never m-make me do anything." His shaky speech contradicted his cheerful expression. "W-What I d-do tonight will b-be out of love."

Would it? If they ever managed to get past this stage, Tina feared she would never be able to tell if it was out of love, or desperation. With a man like the Radio Demon, could anyone tell the difference?

One thing was for sure. The Songbat was not in the right mindset to continue.

"I…I gotta go."

The ever-present smile dropped into a thin line. "W-What?"

She turned around and searched for her clothes. "I…need some time alone."

I need some time alone. Those were the exact words she'd spoken ten years ago. Right before demanding a divorce. Then when denied, packed her bags, and walked out the door. Never to return.

Leaving Alastor alone. At first, in an anxious denial that she would change her mind. That she would walk back through that door at any minute.

He'd waited hours. On his knees. His gaze never leaving the door. Until the sky darkened into a deep scarlet.

That's when reality finally hit him. The love of his afterlife had truly abandoned him.

His next response had been to take his rage out on whatever was in sight. Tearing down the walls, throwing furniture, smashing windows. It'd been days before he'd had the energy to snap away the mess.

Then he'd turned to the bottle. Ignoring the effects he'd seen suffered by his father, his friend, and his wife. It just seemed easier to forget the pain rather than deal with it. And what did it matter if he lost control as a result? The only thing he feared losing control around was no longer there to ground him.

Without Tina, the Radio Demon had no purpose. Losing her had been the greatest torture Hell could offer.

Now after all his effort to win her back, he was losing her all over again.

His quiet, determined voice cut through the static. "No."

Tina, who had slid back into her dress, turned her head. "Al, I'm in no mood to—"

An elongated claw snatched her wrist. She turned around to meet a pair of glowing radio dials accompanied by a bared set of grinning fangs.

It was rare that Tina found her husband frightening. Despite this being one of those moments, she tried to remain calm.

"Al, let go."

He shook his head. "I already let go of you once."

"Al." She pushed against his claw, but it wouldn't budge. "You're squeezin' too hard."

"Besides, you can't leave." He tugged her closer so that their noses were touching. "We made a deal, remember?"

She scowled. "Gee, and ya wonder why I might be feelin' trapped here."

The Songbat writhed in his grasp, her fear and anger triggering another transformation. However, Alastor's demonic form was stronger. Always had been.

"Please, Tina." His grip tightened as his body grew. "If you leave me again, I…I couldn't bear it."

When she next opened her eyes, they were pitch black. "I need to be alone."

He grabbed her other wrist. "No."

Her wings fanned out. "Let go."

He pulled her to his chest. "Don't leave."

Tina winced as his claws dug into her skin. "That…hurts."

One arm ensnared her waist. "You're MINE."

"I…said…" Her eyes glowed purple as she mustered all the raw, furious energy within her. "Let…GO!"

That last word boomed with enough force to knock the Radio Demon backward. Once she was free, the Songbat unleashed her ultimate weapon. The sonic screech.

The wooden furniture splintered. The mirror on the vanity shattered. If Alastor wasn't already accustomed to high-pitched sounds, his ears would've bled. But it had knocked him to the floor, as well as to his senses.

Never had Tina ever used this power on him. During her blackouts, yes. But never with deliberate intent to harm him. The sonic screech came out when she felt the most threatened and helpless.

With this realization, the Radio Demon surrendered to his normal form. Once she was finished screaming, Tina did the same. Her violet eyes filled with tears as they glared down at him.

"We…can't." She shook her head. "Not like this."

Despite this being her room, she stormed out and slammed the door behind her. Leaving Alastor, once again, alone.


Carrie Canary remained still as Camille pinned her to the wall of the supply closet and drove himself into her. Any satisfaction she felt was disguised with pained whimpers.

"If Radio Boy doesn't dump the bitch tonight," Camille grunted as his claws pierced her bare thighs, "this is gonna hurt even more."

Carrie could only nod.

"And if ya think this is bad, what ya think the Three Vs are gonna do to ya? Remember, birdie, if it weren't for me, you'd be Val's little fuck toy already."

The next thrust was so hard that she gasped.

"Ya wouldn't want anyone other than me inside ya. Would ya, baby?"

"N-No."

His claw pressed on her throat. "Then say it."

She choked. "F-Fuck me, b-baby."

So submissive. Not an ounce of fight in her. Always made it so easy for Camille.

If she had been smart enough to conceive a plot that would actually work, he might've been satisfied.

Once he was done, the chameleon dropped Carrie and buttoned up his pants. She picked the remnants of her underwear from the floor.

"It's g-gonna work," she sputtered. "D-Dr. Cougarton says th-the chances of an a-anxious-avoidant couple m-making up are—"

"Quit spouting that psychological crap," Camille barked as he clasped his belt. "I don't care what's going on inside their fucking heads. All I care is what I see. And what I see is Radio Boy's arms around that bitch and defending her like that Magdalen whore.

"And quit acting like you're in charge. The only reason I let you in on this is cuz you're the kinda gal demons would least suspect." He grabbed Carrie's arm and hoisted her up. "And if you fail to uphold your end of the deal, birdie, my soul won't be the only one on the line."

She shivered at the thought.

"Wait five minutes." He adjusted his tie and jacket. "We can't be seen together."

The minute he shut the door, Carrie's helpless expression fell into a scowl. She examined the tears in her dress and rolled her eyes.

"Course the asshole had to rip my favorite dress."

There were sure to be questions, but given how clumsy everyone assumed Carrie to be, her catching her dress on a doorknob would be a feasible story.

Carrie didn't mind Camille taking his anger out on her. It was a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things. While he was rough, her pained reactions were exaggerated. If she didn't act submissive and defenseless, he wouldn't think he was in control.

However, Camille had been right about one thing. If the Radio Demon and the Songbat didn't breakup soon, the Three Vs would lose their patience. And they were a bigger threat than that wannabe gangster of a chameleon. Carrie was running out of time.

After smoothing out her hair and dress and picking up her clutch, the canary opened the closet. Just as someone came stomping past her.

"The fuck am I doing?" the person muttered. "I just stormed outta my own room!"

"Miss Twinkle?" Carrie discreetly shut the door. "Whatever is the matter?"

Tina spun around, her hair out of its bun and her eyes puffed with tears. "I'm, uh, fine." Her hands shook. "I, uh, just need a…need a…"

Carrie recognized this nervous tick in her hands. It came on whenever the Songbat was craving a drink. Even more interesting, the hands were devoid of any rings. Including the big ruby one.

Something had happened with the Radio Demon.

Masking her smugness with a concerned expression, Carrie put her arm around Tina. "Oh, Miss Tina, if it's a drink you want, come to the kitchen and I'll make you some tea. It wouldn't do for the guests to see you like this."

Tina allowed Carrie to guide her to the kitchen and sit her down at a small wooden table. Once she put the kettle on, the canary took out her hell phone, as if occupying herself while waiting for the water to boil. In reality, she was texting Camille.

Bat in the belfry. Wait at back entrance. No sound.

"So, b-boss." Carrie subtly slid the phone back into her clutch. "What's the p-problem?"

The stutter always succeeded in goading information out of the bat. Tina leaned her elbows on the table and buried her face in her hands.

"It's Al. We had a fight. An ugly one."

Carrie put her fingers to her lips in feigned alarm. "Is this about those p-pictures? Was he m-mad?"

She certainly hoped that was the case.

"It started that way," Tina replied. "But then it got…well, heated." She crossed her legs. "And not in the way you'd think."

Noting Tina's messed up hair and bare legs, Carrie released a dramatic gasp. "Oh golly! He didn't t-take advantage of you, d-did he? I knew he c-couldn't be trusted!"

"No, no, it wasn't…" The Songbat's neck reddened. "It wasn't…against my will or anything."

Carrie stopped herself from rolling her eyes. This woman was so finicky when it came to men.

"But he acted…different. Went ravin' 'bout consumatin' our marriage and…startin' a family."

"Oh?"

Not quite the way the canary had predicted things going, but she wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.

The kettle whistled. Carrie, resuming her role as the dutiful employee, prepared a cup of chamomile. Then, eyeing Tina to ensure she wasn't watching, she plucked a feather from her arm and stirred the tea with it.

After sneaking the dampened feather into the trash, Carrie asked, "Isn't that w-what you w-wanted from him though?"

"I did," Tina choked. "And I left cuz I knew he didn't. And I was gonna keep makin' him miserable. But now…" Sobbing, she ran a hand through her disheveled hair. "It's like I don't even know him anymore. Or I never knew him to begin with. Yeah, it'd be nice for us to be intimate, but not if he's gonna go all crazy over it. He went all fucking Radio Demon on me for fuck's sake! How could I go through with it?"

If Carrie had been honest, she would've said, "Do what I do. Lay back and try to get a kick out of it."

Instead, she smiled sweetly, handed Tina the teacup and sat across from her. "You did the right thing, Miss Tina. Getting out of there while you could. Your ex is scary."

"Ex?" Tina looked up as if in a haze. "Is he…are we…?"

Did the Songbat want her marriage to be over? They had just started to patch things back up. And there were a million questions she wanted to ask Alastor. Like why he had suddenly changed his mind about having sex and starting a family. Was he still asexual? Or had he been forcing himself just now?

Either way, Tina hadn't been comfortable with what had happened in her room. But had it been so bad it was worth ending their marriage for good?

Carrie's voice pulled her out of her thoughts. "If you ask me, Miss Twinkle, marriage is overrated. Especially when men are involved. If they can't fully commit to a relationship, they're not worth it. I mean it took him ten years to finally agree to your terms?" She sighed as she gently pushed the teacup towards her boss. "I don't know what he's trying to sell you, but I ain't buying it."

Tina reached for the cup, then paused. "That reminds me." She scrutinized the canary. "Al said something 'bout comin' to the club, callin' for me, and sendin' me letters. Did you know anything about that?"

It took all of Carrie's acting skills not to react. The Songbat was bound to learn about this sooner or later. Still, Carrie continued to play dumb.

"W-Why would you think I would?"

"You would handle the mail and answer the phone." Tina crossed her arms. "And if Hildegard or one of the other security staff wouldn't let a specific person in, it'd be either under my orders, or yours."

The canary stared at her, then hung her head as if in shame. "Y-You said you wanted nothing to do with the Radio Demon. I was j-just looking out for you, Miss Twinkle."

"That wasn't your call to make."

Carrie widened her eyes to appear more innocent. "Are you m-mad at me?"

Sure enough, the wide eyes were convincing.

"No." Tina sighed. "Mostly I'm mad at myself."

Finally, she picked up the tea and sipped it. Carrie watched in anticipation.

"Al is right," Tina said between sips. "I don't know what I want."

"Tell me about it." Carrie folded her arms onto the table and leaned forward. "Once upon a time, I thought what I wanted was a loving husband. One who would treat me like a queen."

She frowned. "Not only did the one I married treat me like garbage, but the minute he got bored with me, he went and fucked the first thirsty little skank he could get his hands on."

Tina sympathized. She could only imagine what Ethan's wife must've felt once she'd learned about their affair. Probably as bad as Alastor. Her head ached at the very thought of it.

Then something about Carrie's tone changed. No longer was it soft and mousy. But steady and cold.

"He thought I didn't know. But despite what he thinks, I'm not stupid." She chuckled. "They say cheaters never win, and that's cuz they're so reckless that they get caught."

Her eyes locked onto Tina. "You'd know all about that, wouldn't you, Miss Twinkle?"

Tina choked on her tea. "W-What?"

Carrie smirked. "That simp husband of yours should've killed you the minute he caught you with that whore."

Tina stiffened. "How did you know about—?"

"Would've been poetic justice." She scowled. "For what you and my husband did to me."

The Songbat's shock turned into confusion. "What are you talk—?"

Just then, Tina lost all feeling in her muscles. The teacup fell from her hand. It hit the table and rolled. Her vision blurred. Her head swirled. She tumbled out of her chair.

Before everything went black, the last thing she heard was, "Did you know the feathers of certain birds can be toxic?"


Yeah, now you know why this chapter took so long. Very heavy stuff.